Final answer:
Fish toxin illnesses include paralytic shellfish poisoning and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, caused by toxins in contaminated shellfish during red tides. Additional concerns in seafood consumption are the accumulation of heavy metals like mercury and arsenic, which can lead to serious health issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two types of fish toxin illnesses associated with the consumption of contaminated fish and shellfish are paralytic shellfish poisoning and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by toxins produced by dinoflagellates, such as Gonyaulax and Alexandrium, which become concentrated in shellfish during red tides, harmful algal blooms that occur in marine environments. These toxins can cause neurological symptoms when consumed by humans. Another toxin illness, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, is associated with the consumption of shellfish contaminated with toxins from the algae Karenia brevis, prevalent in red tides in the Gulf of Mexico. Ingesting these toxins can result in severe neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Aside from these biotoxin-related illnesses, there are also concerns about heavy metal accumulation in seafood. Mercury and arsenic are heavy metals that can accumulate in the tissues of certain fish, posing a risk to humans who consume them. These concerns highlight the importance of monitoring seafood for toxins and heavy metals to prevent poisoning and maintain public health.The two poisonings associated with fish toxin illnesses are paralytic shellfish poisoning caused by Gonyaulax and Alexandrium, and anisakiasis (herring worm disease) caused by nematodes attaching to the epithelium of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine.